Selena Gomez
- Appropriated the bindi at the MTV movie awards
- Wore a t-shirt with an antiziganist slur on it
- Her appropriative “Indian-inspired” look for her Come & Get It album cover
- Covered Shakira’s racist-ass song G***y (see Shakira’s YFIP post here)
Appreciation is to Appropriation as Invitation is to Intrusion.
I wish I could reblog this with all the tags. Stupid ass Tumblr
Cultural Appropriation blogs
Here is a list of blogs run by people dedicated to calling out cultural appropriation of their respective cultures. I made this list because quite frankly, its extremely disrespectful to ask people who are not from a certain culture what is and what’s not cultural appropriation instead of asking people who actually are from that culture/s.
If there’s anymore blogs I missed feel free to add on.
Posting all the awkward photos and texts that exoticise Africa. Africa is not a place for you to find your fucking self, Jesus Christ Almighty. Feel free to submit any bullshit you’ve seen around the internet that fits this. oh. and Africa is not a country. But you already knew thatBecause the appropriation, stereotyping, and fetishizing of native cultures will not be tolerated
Just a blog about Japanese stereotypes, racism, the misconceptions of white people and so on
This blogs main function is reveal the embarrassing glorified view people have of Ireland.
I will mainly be calling out people who stereotype Ireland/Irish people/Irish History, glorify the Troubles, openly discriminate aganist Irish Travellers/Irish Catholics/ Irish Protestants, Irish Americans who believe is ok to use the N word or be openly racist. And correcting One Direction fandom.This blog is NOT intended for any India cultural appreciation tourists. Seek your fix for upper-caste, light-skinned Bollywood love elsewhere.
Welcome to This is Not Asian, a blog dedicated to showing people just how bad orientalism and cultural appropriation can be. To learn more about what we hope to do and what we stand for, read our introduction below. The point of this blog is to point out and comment on the appropriation of Romani culture. The word “Gypsy” is a slur. It is a pejorative. It is offensive and hurtful.The reason I use the term for this blog is because it is most recognizable in the media and social networking world. Because the fetishization of Koreans will not be tolerated.
This blog is NOT intended to showcase the “vibrancy” and “colorfulness” of Indian people. Seek your nonsensical, colonial exotification elsewhere.
Guys when you ask/message me please make it clear if you want this to be public or private cuz that always confuse me.A blog dedicated to deconstructing the negative perceptions of the Filipino people (whether real or imagined), examining the origins of modern Filipino values, and calling out the international affect on Filipinos abroad. The aim is for individuals to redefine for themselves the meaning of what it is to be Pinoy.
When I see anti-Semitic bullshit, I call it out. I may or may not be nice about it. I may or may not cuss a lot. I may or may not use condescending GIFs. It depends on my mood and just how irredeemably stupid the specimen in question is.
Cultural appropriation pisses me off, and if I see you appropriating my culture I will make you aware of it. Because you need to know you’re wrong. You cannot dissect a culture and pick out the parts you find “stylish” or “in trend” just for the sake of looking cute.
This is not an educational blog. I’m not gonna sit around and teach you about my culture because a.) I don’t have time, and b.) I’m not a fucking teacher. And yeah, I do have a right to be mad, so get over it. If I reblog a picture of you, it will stay here on my nice little wall of shame, so don’t complain about it. Appropriation of any kind will be put on this blog, whether you’re wearing a bindi, sari, obsessing over Ganesh, or saying something ignorant — you will be on this blog.
A blog to teach people about Arab stereotypes and cultural appropriation of Arab culture.
Here’s a terrific source for all cultural appropriations!
Schwyzer is still a goy who says really awful, appropriative things about Hinduism and Judaism like this:
Perhaps the best way to think about Kabbalah’s relationship with Judaism is to think about yoga. Americans often forget that yoga came to this country as a Hindu spiritual practice; long before it was seen as healthful exercise, it was inextricably linked with that ancient faith from the Indian subcontinent. But as many of its devotees point out, and as most of us accept, yoga has a universal application – it is a set of practical mental and physical tools that can benefit anyone. Much the same is true of Kabbalah. Though most of the greatest kabbalists have been Jewish, it would be more accurate to say that Kabbalah has been something concealed within Judaism rather than an exclusively Jewish practice. Like yoga, Kabbalah is now being made available to the world thanks to the work of the Centre. And just as many of the purists objected that yoga was only for Hindus, so too many now object that Kabbalah is only for Jews. But they are wrong, on both historical and spiritual grounds.
Thank you, you white goy for telling both Hindus and Jews that we don’t know our culture and history and spiritual practices.
We REALLY needed that from your WASP-y ass.
I do not know what I find more frustrating about watching RuPaul’s Drag Race online…
How much time the videos take to buffer (over and over and over again) or how problematic the show is with:
- white people appropriating AAVE
- drag queens misrepresenting and stealing from cultures they do not belong to
- the Paris is Burning references with no respectful nods or other acknowledgment
- the lack of contestant diversity
- Alaska - Sharon Needles’ fucking racist significant other being on the show
- Ru’s continued use of trans* slurs
- more reasons listed here.
Actually, I find all of these things frustrating and anger-inducing, but the thing that bothers me most is probably the fact that even despite these things: I. CAN’T. STOP. WATCHING. THE. DAMNED. SHOW.
<SNIP>
I’ll tell you what white people totally own: over-thinking shit.
How strange then, that every single consideration I presented I learned from listening to POC talk about the subject. Also, note-a-bear, who I quoted, will be very interested to learn he is magically white all of a sudden.
If white people can’t say “Yo Nails Did”, then why can Chinese people use Penicillin? Why may people who aren’t from Scotland employ the electric light? Why can Finns use the reciprocating engine? Why can the Japanese play Fender Jaguars? Why may I use chopsticks? Is it ok if I eat pasta? And seriously, fuck the Japanese and their damned appropriation of Scotch Whiskey!
The only reason I’m reblogging this is because this reply is so inanely stupid and devoid of any comprehension of social context & racial power dynamics that I thought my followers would get a good belly laugh out of it.
I would give this jackass an actual reply to what I’m sure he think is a very clever checkmate, but I’m also pretty sure his mind is made up and I’d be wasting my energy and time. Anyone following me knows exactly why his line of ‘reasoning’ is total bullshit. If you feel like explaining it to him, have at it - but I’m fairly confident he’s heard it before and has chosen to disregard it.
ew, a thinspo blog just followed me.
they have a picture of a fat woman tagged as ‘thinspo’, and then another picture of some hipster white girl wearing a dreamcatcher as a necklace.
why. are. they. following. me.
Appropriators hate the word “No”
At the end of the day, appropriators show their asses because they’re more concerned about being angry that POC dared to say “No” to them, than anything else - NEVER do you see them stepping up to fight against all the backlash and discrimination POC receive, when they do those same cultural practices.
You can show up to goggle at a Black church choir- you’re not there when the place is firebombed.
You can demand to get to wear dreads - you don’t even know about natural hair discrimination in the workplace.
You want to be a “Native shaman” - you don’t know jack about the residential schools or the current state of the tribe (or even what tribe) you’re appropriating from.
Etc. etc.
If you think all these things “are cool” why don’t you help the people who originated these practices/fashions/beliefs BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE THEM? (and that’s before we even GET to the part of them choosing how and where and who gets to practice these things…)
Oh, that’s because it’s all about you, really.
And that’s where you show your white supremacy and domination attitude - you’re more invested in making sure that the world cheers you on for donning the practices of others like a fashion or a toy or a hobby, than you are about the survival of the practice itself.
And suddenly we’ve got white jazz and white rock and roll.
You’re not celebrating culture, you’re celebrating conquest. Cultural genocide, we see you.
hijab challenge
no no no no no no no no no no no no
STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP
wearing the hijab for ONE DAY as a social experiment is not gonna teach you shit, and if you need to appropriate LIVING PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES to get a better sense of oppression, you have some serious privilege to work through.
white women shit on muslim women all the time, don’t you DARE think you can be all nice and chummy with us now by appropriating our experiences
STOP
IT
NOW.
also can i just say i am a muslim woman, born and raised, but i don’t wear the hijab, and even i would be feeling super weird about wearing it as a social experiment even though i am a muslim woman and i can whenever i want, so if i’m feeling weird about it, non-muslim women need to STEP THE FUCK OFF.
In addition to education, let's also offer people alternatives to cultural appropriation.
A lot of attention has been drawn to the native fashion trend in the past year or so. From violations of the Navajo trademark, to No Doubt and Victoria’s Secret experiencing a long-overdue backlash to the all-too common misuse of Plains warbonnets; the issues surrounding ‘native inspired’ fashion are being talked about on a wider scale.
(Go ahead and sate your hunger for native fashion, the legitimate way!)
What a lot of people are asking is, “If we love native fashion, where can we get it without engaging in cultural appropriation?”
Jessica Metcalfe (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) has been answering that question for quite some time on her blog, Beyond Buckskin. Even more awesome, she launched the Beyond Buckskin Boutique which gives you instant access to legitimate native fashion, from haute couture to streetwear, modern and traditional.
In a recent article, Jessica Metcalfe was asked how launching a ‘native fashion’ boutique is any different than what Urban Outfitters and so many other companies are doing. I think her response is well worth quoting here:
- I work with Native American artists – folks who are active members of Native communities.
- These artists are exceptionally talented.
- They are also very knowledgeable and smart about their cultures and cultural values and know which items (ie sacred items) are off-limits and shouldn’t be sold.
- They know how to translate the artistic traditions of their Native communities to be shared by people from ALL backgrounds.
- They don’t resort to stereotypes, and they present a new vision and a new version of ‘the Native’ in fashion.
- They are incredibly respectful of Native people.
- Profits from the Beyond Buckskin Boutique go directly to these artists and support small businesses, many of which are in Native communities and represent economic development strategies. I could go on.
This is pretty much as good as it gets, in my opinion. There is a difference between appropriation and appreciation, and Metcalfe pretty clearly lays out what they are above. Beyond Buckskin has a page devoted to a variety of native-run stores you can browse this holiday season for some kickass presents for you or others. Take a look at some of what is available out there, for natives and non-natives alike!
(Gorgeous hand made, beaded moccasins done in traditional Tlicho Dene style! These are a children’s size 1.)
(Edzerza Gallery, by Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza, bringing you urban style with traditional flair!)
So whether you’re looking for someone awesome to spend your money on and treasure for always, or if you’re just sick of people asking you, “Are we allowed to wear ANYTHING AT ALL!?” you can use this resource as resounding, “YES PLEASE!”
(Traditional porcupine quill earrings by Ista Ska (Lakota).)
If you are racist, classist, cissexist, transmisogynistic, a body-shamer, a sex-shamer, or exhibit any other type of douchebaggery, you are NO role model of mine - nor ally, nor friend, nor community member.
Click the link above to view a list of trans* douchebaggery I have created in order to help document what some trans* role models REALLY stand for. This list will be added to as other resources are found and more instances occur (and they will).
*UPDATED! Now includes the following: Buck Angel, Kael T. Block, Chaz Bono, Ryan Cassata, Ira Dalton Gray AKA Ira Sanchez, and Lucas Silveira.
“
Consuming Native American Spirituality
Commercial exploitation of Native American spiritual traditions has permeated the New Age movement since its emergence in the 1980s. Euro-Americans professing to be medicine people have profited from publications and workshops. Mass quantities of products promoted as “Native American sacred objects” have been successfully sold by white entrepreneurs to a largely non-Indian market. This essay begins with an overview of these acts of commercialization as well as Native Americans’ objections to such practices. Its real focus, however, is the motivation behind the New Agers’ obsession and consumption of Native American spirituality. Why do New Agers persist in consuming commercialized Native American spirituality? What kinds of self-articulated defenses do New Agers offer for these commercial practices? To answer these questions, analysis from a larger social and economic perspective is needed to further understand the motivations behind New Age consumption.
In the so-called postmodern culture of late consumer capitalism, a significant number of white affluent suburban and urban middle-aged baby-boomers complain of feeling uprooted from cultural traditions, community belonging, and spiritual meaning. The New Age movement is one such response to these feelings. New Agers romanticize an “authentic” and “traditional” Native American culture whose spirituality can save them from their own sense of malaise. However, as products of the very consumer culture they seek to escape, these New Agers pursue spiritual meaning and cultural identification through acts of purchase. Although New Agers identify as a countercultural group, their commercial actions mesh quite well with mainstream capitalism. Ultimately, their search for spiritual and cultural meaning through material acquisition leaves them feeling unsatisfied. The community they seek is only imagined, a world conjured up by the promises of advertised products, but with no history, social relations, or contextualized culture that would make for a sense of real belonging. Meanwhile, their fetishization of Native American spirituality not only masks the social oppression of real Indian peoples but also perpetuates it.
” —From: The American Indian Quarterly Volume 24, Number 3, Summer 2000
(via doveilmiosoldi)
Fuck, I made myself sad.
Tell me why, Tumblr.
Tell me why I did a search for ‘Wampanoag Dress’ looking for historical and reconstruction Wampanoag attire and found THIS instead.
Tell me why non-native people think that it is remotely appropriate to dress their children up like this:
And make them choose ‘Indian Names’ (The OP’s child chose the name ‘Creative Spirit’ and the OP thinks that this is just darling).
Tell me why non-native people are still perpetuating the myth of ‘The First Thanksgiving’.
Tell me why Wampanoag people are continuously referred to in the past tense in this post, as if they stopped existing the day after the setting of that myth.Tell me why the OP is flippant and silly and almost proud about her own ignorance:
“The first thing we did was build a wetu. Huh? Yeah, a wetu. Apparently that’s what the wampanoags lived in. This is how my kindergartner described it to me. Silly me, guess I should have known that. I mean who doesn’t know what a wampanoag and a wetu is?”
Tell me why they call this ‘Educational’ and think they’re doing a good thing.
This is how racism starts.
This is how stereotypes are formed in the minds of children.
This is the start of the path that ends with hipsters in war bonnets frolicking in fields half-naked, carrying bottles of booze and getting self-righteously angry (And refusing to learn. And continuing to be angry) when they’re confronted.
When you only speak about Native American people in the past tense, in certain contexts. When you only mention them as pertains to White history. When you depict them in stereotypical ways. This is how it starts.
Depictions like this are hurtful. Dressing up in redface is hurtful. Wearing ‘war paint’ is hurtful. Dressing up as another race by wearing terribly stereotypical caricatures of what you think that race looks like is not appropriate. Teaching your child that this is what they should think of when they hear ‘Native American’ HURTS REAL NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE. It creates, in the mind of your child, a stereotype, a caricature, of what Native people do/should look like that erases us in reality and removes us from their perception of the modern world. It turns ‘Native American’ into someone wearing beads and headbands and feathers and face paint. It turns an ethnic, racial identity into a costume.
That is not what Wampanoag people -ever- looked like.
THIS is what Wampanoag people looked like in the 1620’s:
THIS is what Wampanoag people look like today when dressed in Regalia for powwow:
And THIS is what we look like when we’re -NOT- dressed for Powwow:
reblogging myself because it’s topical to the post directly below and to this date on the US calendar.
TBH, Kelly-Kelly strikes me as the type of person who would wear stereotypical “sexy” Native hipster costumes outside of these dumb Thanksgiving photoshoots.
Friendly reminder that spirit animals are a sacred concept in a variety of religions worldwide (many of them being aboriginal religions that are at risk of destruction by European colonialism) and are not a way to joke about your admiration for something or someone.
friendly reminder that you’re getting butt hurt over nothing.
friendly reminder that everything is 100x more offensive on Tumblr than it should be.
Oh hey! A horrible human being!
Reblogging as a PSA before I block you.
